Funeral service plans announced

Former Rep. Lindy Boggs of Louisiana, who used the soft-spoken grace of a plantation lady to fight for civil rights during nearly 18 years in Congress after succeeding her late husband in the House, died Saturday. She was 97.

Boggs, who later served three years as ambassador to the Vatican during the Clinton administration, died of natural causes at her home in Chevy Chase, Md., according to her daughter, ABC News journalist Cokie Roberts.

Boggs' years in Congress started with a special election in 1973 to finish the term of her husband, Thomas Hale Boggs Sr., whose plane disappeared over Alaska six months earlier. Between them, they served a half-century in the House.

"It didn't occur to us that anybody else would do it," Roberts said in explaining why her mother was the natural pick for the congressional seat. Her parents, who had met in college, were "political partners for decades," she said, with Lindy Boggs running her husband's political campaigns and becoming a player on the Washington political scene.

Roberts called her mother "a trailblazer for women and the disadvantaged."

When Boggs announced her retirement in 1990, she was the only white representing a black-majority district in Congress. "I am proud to have played a small role in opening doors for blacks and women," she said at the time.

As family tragedy brought her into Congress, so did it usher her out. At the time of her July 1990 announcement that she was leaving Congress, her daughter Barbara Boggs Sigmund, mayor of Princeton, N.J., was dying of cancer. Sigmund died that October.

Her son, Thomas Hale Boggs Jr., is a leading Washington lawyer and lobbyist.

The elder Thomas Boggs was first elected to Congress in 1940, two years after the couple married. Both were also active in local reform groups.

Lindy Boggs would also serve the nation overseas. She was named by President Bill Clinton as ambassador to the Vatican in 1997.

Among her other accomplishments, Boggs was the first woman to chair the Democratic National Convention. That was in 1976.

Boggs was a graduate of St. Joseph's Academy in New Roads, La., and Sophie Newcomb College at Tulane University.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal issued a statement on the passing of Boggs.

"As the first woman elected to Congress in Louisiana, and as the first female chair of the Democratic National Convention, Lindy no doubt left her mark on history. She lived a life of service, carrying on for those who couldn't and speaking up for those who didn't have a voice in the halls of Congress. Lindy was a true fighter, but she did it with incredible grace and the people of Louisiana are grateful for her service. The thoughts and prayers of my family and of the people of Louisiana are with Lindy's family," Jindal said.

Jefferson Parish President John Young also expressed his condolences.

"On behalf of the residents of Jefferson Parish, I want to send my heartfelt condolences to the families of Lindy Boggs and Billy Guste, in the wake of their passing. Lindy and Billy were two outstanding public servants and we thank them for their dedication and service to the citizens of Louisiana. Our hearts and prayers are with their families as they begin the process of grieving, remembering and honoring the lives of their loved ones," Young said.

Lousiana Rep. Cedric Richmond also sent his thoughts and prayers to Boggs' family.

"My thoughts and prayers are with the Boggs family as we all mourn the loss of a true legend, Ambassador Lindy Boggs. I am grateful for the opportunity to have known Lindy. She was a first class public servant who had many firsts. Lindy Boggs was truly the perfect example of leadership, never afraid to fight for justice and demand equality. To know her is to know a woman who loved her family, her country, and the many people she served. She took the responsibility of service seriously, and the 2nd Congressional District and the state of Louisiana are better for it. She demanded respect across the globe, not because of her words, but because of her actions; a woman who was small in stature, but big in heart. I am grateful for the opportunity I had to celebrate her while she was still with us. We acknowledged her birthday and her body of work earlier this year at the U.S. Capitol during Women's History month. I pray we all find comfort in her tenacity, accomplishments, and sacrifices," Richmond said.

New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu said Boggs was an inspiration to many.

"We lost a legend who served as an inspiration to people throughout the country. Lindy Boggs was the epitome of dignity and grace. She helped build the stage upon which so many female elected officials stand today. As a U.S. congresswoman for New Orleans, Lindy was well-known and respected by both sides of the aisle because she served with integrity and fairness while always fighting hard for her district. The people of New Orleans will forever be grateful for her tenacity on their behalf. She was a national and international treasure, and the world is a better place because she lived. I am thankful to have called her a friend, and my thoughts and prayers go out to the Boggs family," Landrieu said.

TODAY... THE STATE OF LOUISIANA LOST A CIVIC ACTIVIST AND COMMUNITY LEADER. FORMER REPRESENTATIVE LINDY BOGGS PASSED AWAY TODAY AT HER HOME IN MARYLAND. SHE WAS THE FIRST FEMALE ELECTED TO CONGRESS FROM OUR STATE... AND SERVED AS AN AMBASSADOR TO THE VATICAN UNDER THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION. WDSU ANCHOR RANDI ROUSSEAU HAS MORE ON THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF LINDY BOGGS AND HOW OUR PRESENT LEADERS HONOR HER LEGACY. A CHAMPION FOR WOMEN AND CIVIL RIGHTS... FORMER REPRESENTATIVE LINDY BOGGS WAS ONE TO NEVER BACK DOWN FROM A CHALLENGE... PUSHING FOR EQUAL PAY, HISTORIC PRESERVATION, AND RACIAL JUSTICE. "...I think the new challenge is something that will be met like the old challenges have been." AND NOW THE CHALLENGE FOR THOSE SHE LEAVES BEHIND... LIVING WITHOUT HER SOUTHERN CHARM AND HUMILITY. "She's been a personal friend and my role model. She ranks up there with my mother and my mother in law and my grandmother and women who have set the bar." COUNCIL PRESIDENT JACKIE CLARKSON SAYS SHE CAN'T REMEMBER A TIME IN HER PERSONAL LIFE WITHOUT LINDY BOGGS. BOGGS WAS ELECTED TO CONGRESS FOLLOWING A SPECIAL ELECTION IN 1973 -- TO FINISH OUT HER HUSBAND HALE'S TERM IN OFFICE AFTER HIS PLANE DISAPPEARED OVER ALASKA. "As a congresswoman, she never forgot the under- served, to break ceilings for women and to represent everybody." "I think what people really remember about her is her human touch and she understood the plight of everyday people and she worked to solve those problems." REPRESENTATIVE CEDRIC RICHMOND IS NOW WORKING TO SOLVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS - SERVING BOGGS OLD DISTRICT. IN MARCH, HE HAD THE CHANCE TO CELEBRATE HER 97TH BIRTHDAY AS OUR NATIONS LEADERS HONORED HER COMMITMENT TO THE COUNTRY. "Ambassador Boggs is now one of few women who served in congress who now have something named for them and now at statutory hall you have a room that's called the Lindy Boggs Room" "And NO holds many of her namesakes, like the LB Building at Tulane, Lindy place for Homeless women and the Lindy Boggs International Conference Center at UNO." "Lindy Boggs Set the prototype and we are under the obligation to follow it... Because she was ours." AND WILL FOREVER BE A STAPLE OF LOUISIANA HISTORY. ON YOUR SIDE I'M RANDI ROUSSEAU WDSU NEWS. LINDY BOGGS WAS 97 YEARS OLD. HER DAUGHTER, AND JOURNALIST COKIE ROBERTS, SAYS BOGGS DIED OF NATURAL CAUSES AT HER HOME IN CHEVY CHASE, MARYLAND AND SEVERAL OTHER LOCAL LEADERS